Dafydd Iwan's 'Yma o Hyd' has been a familiar anthem to Welsh speakers for some time, but has firmly moved into the mainstream in recent years, and sport has had a big part to play in its popularity.
A song about the survival of Welsh culture and language, it has been a mainstay of pre-match festivities at the Scarlets and Wrexham AFC for some time, and has also been heard at Welsh international rugby matches.
Recently, it has also become a part of Cardiff City's pre-match preparations, and is often played alongside the equally iconic 'Men of Harlech', which greets the Bluebirds players as they walk out on to the pitch.
Read more: Welsh football fans left legendary folk singer Dafydd Iwan in tears 38 years after he wrote it
The influence of what is Iwan's finest work, as a musician anyway, has also grown alongside the Welsh independence movement, where it unsurprisingly strikes a chord, but even outside the nationalist movement it remains popular. Back in 2020 the track even got to the top of the UK iTunes chart.
Now, it's recently become something of an unofficial anthem for the Welsh national football team, with the Football Association of Wales recently inviting Iwan himself to sing the song ahead of the team's World Cup play-off win over Austria on Thursday. However, its use ahead of Wales games at Cardiff City Stadium is actually a relatively new phenomenon.
Connor Roberts and Chris Gunter are big fans of the song, with Rob Page recently revealing that it was the latter who played a big part in its introduction to the Welsh national team set-up. Page said this week: "Yma o Hyd, that's a massive anthem for us now. Chris Gunter started it. We played it everyday before training and on the coach, and that's something we've got now as our anthem. It's a big part of what we're all about. The song is very poignant to what we're all about. We can all relate to it. We're all passionate Welsh people who love our country."
Yma o Hyd lyrics in full
Dwyt ti'm yn cofio Macsen
Does neb yn ei nabod o
Mae mil a chwe chant o flynyddoedd
Yn amser rhy hir i'r co'
Pan aeth Magnus Maximus o Gymru
Yn y flwyddyn tri-chant-wyth-tri
A'n gadael yn genedl gyfan
A heddiw: wele ni!
(You don't remember Macsen,
nobody knows him.
One thousand and six hundred years,
a time too long to remember.
When Magnus Maximus left Wales,
in the year 383,
leaving us a whole nation,
and today - look at us!)
Ry'n ni yma o hyd
Ry'n ni yma o hyd
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Ry'n ni yma o hyd
Ry'n ni yma o hyd
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth
Ry'n ni yma o hyd
(We are still here,
we are still here,
in spite of everyone and everything,
in spite of everyone and everything,
in spite of everyone and everything.
We are still here,
we are still here,
in spite of everyone and everything,
in spite of everyone and everything,
in spite of everyone and everything.
We are still here.)
Chwythed y gwynt o'r Dwyrain
Rhued y storm o'r môr
Hollted y mellt yr wybren
A gwaedded y daran encôr
Llifed dagrau'r gwangalon
A llyfed y taeog y llawr
Er dued yw'r fagddu o'n cwmpas
Ry'n ni'n barod am doriad y wawr!
(Let the wind blow from the East,
let the storm roar from the sea,
let the lightning split the heavens,
and the thunder shout "encore!"
Let the tears of the faint-hearted flow,
and the servile lick the floor.
Despite the blackness around us,
we are ready for the breaking of the dawn!)
Cofiwn i Facsen Wledig
Adael ein gwlad yn un darn
A bloeddiwn gerbron y gwledydd
Mi fyddwn yma tan Ddydd y Farn!
Er gwaetha pob Dic Siôn Dafydd
Er gwaetha 'rhen Fagi a'i chriw
Byddwn yma hyd ddiwedd amser
A bydd yr iaith Gymraeg yn fyw!
(We remember that Macsen the Emperor
left our country in one whole piece.
And we shall shout before the nations,
"We'll be here until Judgement Day!"
Despite every Dic Siôn Dafydd,
despite old Maggie and her crew,
we'll be here until the end of time,
and the Welsh language will be alive!)
